"Binary Code" (GASA4 Cashier x Reader Sequel) [COMPLETED]

Chapter 3.

"Ah, just smoking withdrawals. I've been picking at my skin, y'know just side affects, no worries." You frowned.

"You poor thing." You replied, grabbing his arm gently and examining his bandages and the semi-healed scabs that had not been covered. You rubbed your hand over them gently, feeling his ragged skin over your fingers as you then looked back up at him and pulled him into a hug.

"I'm so proud of you. You know that?" You whispered to Cashier who sat there, guilty as ever. Before you knew it, you felt Cashier shaking and a muffled sob come out of his as you let him out of the hug, to find his crying violently.

"Cashier! Are- you alright? Did I say something wrong?" You frantically asked, wondering he was alright.

"No, no, it isn't you it's me- it's just I have to let you know-" As he choked out a sentence you and Cashier heard the door swing open to reveal Dummy who had walked in a moment prior.

"Oh, hello, Dummy." You stated, smiling a little as Dummy walked up to the counter too. Cashier quickly dried his tears upon seeing Dummy and waved to him as well. Dummy greeted the two of you before grabbing a soda from the fridge next to the counter and placing it down in front of Cashier. Cashier threw himself together and scanned the item, handing it back to Dummy after he did.

"Thanks." Dummy stated blankly.

"Y'know Dummy, you remind me of mashed potatoes. Your very straightforward and uh-" You couldn't get the words out, trying not to offend Dummy. Could he even get offended?

"Bland? Yeah, it helps me avoid conflict of any sort. I personally just stick to myself." You nodded.

"Yeah, just like that." You chuckled. He gave you a smile too before opening his soda and taking a swig. As if Cashier wasn't bawling his eyes out just a moment ago, he slumped over the counter and shut his eyes, deciding he'd let you and Dummy talk whilst he slept for a while seeing as the crying made him tired out.

After a bit of conversing with one another, you looked at the timer on the wall above the counter and you jumped.

"Oh! I've gotta get home to watch a show I'll miss. Bye Dummy!" You stated, rushing out of the store. Dummy waved before turning to look at Cashier and frowned."

"Cashier, you up?" Cashier quickly woke up as he was in a light sleep and looked up groggily.

"H-uh-? Erm, whatcha need, Dummy?" He asked, still half asleep.

"I thought (Reader) wanted you to stop smoking?" He questioned, getting a little suspicious of Cashier.

"What do you mean?" He asked hesitantly.

"I did quit. I quit after I promised 'em-"

"Then why were you smoking not too long ago?" Dummy wondered, narrowing his eyes at Cashier.

"Look- it was just a few! It takes time to quit and- listen! I can stop if i really wanted to."

"And you don't want to stop for (Reader)?" Dummy replied, resting his arms on the counter and slumping over it to face Cashier directly.

"Well, yes, I really do. It's just- it's so hard, Dummy. I admit it. I can't quit. Lord, I've tried and I feel so guilty, but I just can't! Especially after the whole 'world being code' thing. I'm having an existential crisis over here!" Dummy sighed and stood up straight before walking towards the door.

"Let's go outside, Cashier." Cashier looked up before nodding and walking with Dummy until they were both now sitting next to each other on the roof.

"Cashier, I've never had experience being an addict and I can imagine it is really challenging to find the strength to stop- but you have to. For (Reader)'s sake." He sighed, looking at Cashier with upset eyes.

"I know- I just-"

"Cashier, stop making excuses. You need to face this head on or you'll never truly overcome it. It'll always be, "I'll quit tomorrow." and then tomorrow comes and you then realize you already lit one. Cashier, you need to stop. Your actions have consequences. We can all work through this together. You have to tell (Reader). If you don't you'll spiral and become worse than you already were before"

"I will, I promise-"

"Don't promise me. Promise (Reader). For God sake, they're trying to help you! And all you're doing is making them feel worse over something they have no control over." Dummy admitted, sighing aggressively. At this point, Cashier had fallen silent, unable to oppose anything Dummy said since he knew the other was right.

"Where is your box of cigarettes?" Dummy asked. Cashier pulled them out from his pocket and handed them over to Dummy which Dummy rejected.

"No, smoke. Smoke one final cigarette and make this one truly your last." He told Cashier who slid one out of the box carefully and lit it, taking a deep puff and exhaling it.

"You've gotta stop. We both know this is taking some sort of mental toll on (Reader). They truly care about you if they want you to quit." Cashier took another huff and nodded. Dummy then took the cigarette from Cashier and pressed it against his skin to put it out. Cashier screamed in pain and cupped the wound tightly before looking at Dummy like a madman.

"That's the kind of pain loved one's of addicts go through, only much worse. If you can't stop for yourself. stop for (Reader). And tell them or leave them, because if anything, they don't deserve this." Dummy spoke before opening a portal and heading back into the void, leaving Cashier out in the cold night alone on the rooftop to think about what Dummy had said.

As Cashier headed back inside, carefully hopping down from the roof, he looked for a bandage under the counter. After finding one he then moved his arm to bandage the wound only to find green binary underneath where the wound was. Cashier, now trembling poked at it and screamed in agony as he did as it hurt terribly. He quickly bandaged the wound before process what Dummy had said and laid on the floor, mentally crumbling away as he fell apart. He sobbed violently, screaming out the only thing he could which was garbled words until he started coughing so hard he nearly puked. And after he had calmed himself, he shook violently, hyperventilating until the adrenaline wear-off put him to sleep for the night.